H. E. Stoops & J. N. Brown

Stoops &
Brown, proprietors of the popular Natural Bridge Hotel on LookoutMountain, took charge
of the same in 1885. The grounds belonging to the hotel comprise
fourteen acres on which is the NaturalBridge, Telephone Rock and numerous other
attractions. There are also several
finesprings of
both free-stone and chalybeate water. The association of spiritualists
purchased the property in 1881 for $7,000. The hotel as it is now
improved and arranged contains forty-five rooms. H. E. Stoops is a
native of Hamilton County, Ohio, came to Chattanoogain 1871, and was connected with the
Florentine Hotel from 1876 until he became interested in the management
of the Natural Bridge Hotel. He was also treasurer of the Chattanooga
Opera House Company, from 1879 to 1886, and during the latter year was
postmaster of Lookout postoffice. His parents, A. J. and Nannie A. (Cox)
Stoops, are natives of Pennsylvaniaand Franklin County, Ind., they are now
residing in Chattanooga, the father following the occupation of a
contractor. J. N. Brown is a native of Washington County, Tenn., where he was reared and educated. He came
to Chattanoogain 1878, and was also connected with the
Florentine Hotel until he and Mr. Stoops took charge of their present
hotel. In 1885 he married Miss Nettie Stoops a native of Covington, Ky.
James F. Brown, father of J. N., was born in Washington County, Tenn.,
and died in the same county in 1863. Margaret (Harvey) Brown, the mother, is also a native of
Washington County, Tenn., of Irish descent, and now resides in Jonesboro, Tenn.